Education and Outreach

The goal of the HTI Education Committee is to introduce adults and children alike to the history of Takoma Park — the stories of the people who settled here and how they created the community we inherit today. By sharing that history, we hope to encourage others to join our efforts to preserve the past (buildings as well as recollected memories) and shape future development.

Educational services are delivered through publications, newsletters, a website, and seminars for residents of Takoma Park, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Some of HTI's recent educational activited include:

• During 2008, the distribution of the HTI newsletter was greatly expanded.
• An HTI committee has identified and collected photographs for inclusion in the HTI archives collection.
The best photographs will be incorporated in a photographic history of Takoma that is expected to be published in 2010.
• Walking tours were held of various Takoma communities, including the Old Town.
• During 2008, the Chair of the HTI Education Committee wrote 12 monthly columns regarding community history for the Takoma Voice, a widely distributed community newspaper.
• HTI regularly disseminated information to members of the community regarding developments, including permitting applications, affecting the Takoma's DC and Maryland historic districts and regarding preservation initiatives affecting the larger community. Among these were two applications that were considered during 2008 for the designation of two important Silver Spring properties.
• In October 2008, HTI hosted a well-attended fall festival event at the historic Thomas Siegler Carriage House, to call attention to the heritage of Takoma Park D.C. and Maryland.
• HTI worked with various humanities and cultural tourism groups to improve signage designed to foster an appreciation for community history.